Vive ∙ Black Raspberry
Cold Hard Facts
Available in 12 oz. skinny cans sold within 12-can variety packs
2g sugar
100 calories
8 calories from sugar, 92 calories from alcohol
Flavor Profile
I’ll start this review by saying that I appreciate that Braxton made their raspberry hard seltzer a black raspberry flavor. I’m sure it was just in name only, but it’s special to the area thanks to a certain ice cream flavor. Now, I’m fine with raspberry flavored stuff, but for a new take, I sampled it with my sister, Noted Raspberry Lover.
All that being said, this was probably the most disappointing Vive flavor. In addition to it being artificial and lacking that ideal tart, juicy raspberry flavor, my sister and I found it to have an unpleasantly bitter aftertaste. My sister also agreed that this, like the other Vives, had a stronger flavor that’s unexpected (but not unwelcome in the nicer tasting options.)
Drinkability
As with other Vives, the 5% ABV is a hair hefty for ideal day-drink-ability. The bitterness in this flavor inhibits the drinkability. If you’re looking to nurse a hard seltzer, that might be a good thing, I guess.
Price
Vive brand seltzers are relatively new, so it’s tough to say what pricing will be like as they travel farther from the source and as their production gains economies of scale. Given that Braxton Brewing Company is very close to our HQ and Vive is new, here is the HardSeltzerReviews.com price index estimate:
Dive Bar
$3-5 for a 12 oz. can
Bar/Restaurant
$4-6 for a 12 oz. can
$5 at Braxton Brewing Co.
Store
$18 for a 12-pack of 12 oz. cans
Recommendations
This is one that might be better when mixed. Mixing hard seltzers can often mask less appetizing flavors, and if this is cut with something non-alcoholic or lighter in flavor, it could really increase the drinkability. It would hopefully nuke some of the bitterness in the raspberry.
Summary
Taste
2/5
Price
$$$
Drinkability
2/5
Hangover Ease
3/5
Overall Rating: 2.5/5
Not mad, just disappointed
I had high hopes that the Vive Black Raspberry flavor would take me from feeling meh to excited about raspberry hard seltzer. However, it fell quite short. It’s probably the biggest dud of all of the Vives, but if we’re ranking flavors, one of them has to come in last anyways.